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HAND-BOOK OF CROQUET. 



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CROQUET. 

TERMS, SUGGESTIONS AND RULES, 



UNIFOKM AND CONDENSED 



UNDER DIRECTION OF "^L/P/ 



THE AMERICAN CROQUET COMPANY, 



0:F G-EIiTESEO, UsT. "y. 



©fetteseo, W. IT.: 

^ REPUBLICAN STEAM POWER PRESSES. ^ 

V 1871. V 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by the 

AMERICAN CROQUET COMPANTof GENESEO, N. Y., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



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PREFACE. 



I T will be observed that this edition of our hand- 
book of Croquet contains considerably more mat- 
ter than those which have preceded it. Doubtless, 
much might have been omitted without very serious 
detriment. We have, however, endeavored to be 
as concise as possible, and at the same time give an in- 
telligible history of the game, and a satisfactory expo- 
sition of the manner in which it is played, and the 
rules which regulate it, 

While Croquet may be kept so simple that even chil- 
dren can learn to play it with much satisfaction, yet it 
may be made, and is made, of so systematic and scien- 
tific a character, that considerable study becomes neces- 
sary to understand the quite formidable array of rules 
and regulations which are thrown around it. 

While we may differ, on a few points, from some 
other writers on this subject, we are quite of the opin- 
ion, that all the rules we have included in our manual 

^ .i 

rg^3 ~- -e/^ 




^ 

PREFACE \ 



will be found to be well sustained bj the majority of 
the authorities. 

At the present reasonable rates (for which our Com- 
pany is entitled to much credit), no family should be 
without this recreation, in which all its members can 
join, and which tends, so greatly, to keep within the 
home circle the younger ones of the household. 




t^ ^ -^ 



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-o^ 



! 



CHAPTER I. 



CROQUET. 

.lELD or lawn croquet is fast beco ning in this 
country, as in England, a national game, and 
one which our fair countrywomen will never re- j 
linquish. Erom its pleasurable excitements an. I 
and health-giving influences, and from the fact 
that it is the only pastime which necessarily leads our 
gentler sex into the open air, we can safely predict for 
the game as much of a success in this country as it 
has already reached in England and many parts of the 
Continent. 

Ladies and gentlemen being able to join in one com- 
mon amusement, and that of so refined and scientific a 
character, is, in itself, a sufficient reason for the won- 
derful popularity of this modern gaxe. While Croquet 
may be made so simple that even children can play it 
yet it is undeniably a game of science, in which head- 
work must accompany a correct eye, steady nerves, and 
much practice. 



s^^- 



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I 



CROQUET. \ 



An enthusiastic and well known English author does 
not hesitate to predict that, " at no distant day, Croquet 
will become not only the national sport of England, but 
the pastime of the age." It has been said by a scientific 
player of billiards, that while croquet is inferior to that 
game in opportunities for very delicate and dextrous 
manipulations, it surpasses it in the field it opens for the 
exercise of the higher qualities of combination and 
foresight. Whist exercises the memory and the faculty 
of calculating probabilities; chess, the imagination and 
the capacity for abstract reasoning; while croquet, 
though it taxes these mental qualities less, more than 
compensates by associating them with the delights of 
outdoor exercise, and a more extensive sociality — call- 
ing into requisition fresh air friendships, which are the 
most effective appetizers and promoters of health and 
happiness. 

And now a few words as to the origin of Croquet. 
About ten years ago, the game was quietly introduced 
into England ; so quietly, however, that no one now 
knows whence or how it came. It took immediate hold 
of the public taste, and spread, wonderfully quick, ojter 
the entire surface of that country. Punch was at once 
enlivened with graphic sketches of the sport ; it took as 
well with the aristocracy as with the gentry ; and the 
public squares were thrown open for its full enjoyment. 

fee- ^ -ej 



w^ -^ 

/ CROqUET. \ 



The name itself is a singular one, and no one lias yet 
giren, and no one probably can give, a satisfactory 
reason for its appropriateness. Tke Frencliman makes 
his compliments to John Bull, Esq., and thanks him for 
the game, but would like to be informed what connec- 
tion there can possibly be between the manner of the 
game and his vocable " croquet " — a sort of cracknel, or 
hard gingerbread nut. The Englishman returns his 
obligations to Johnny Crappau, for the name, well aware 
that its very strangeness gives additional piquancy to 
the game. Some forlorn old bachelor has bethought 
himself that the name croquet is probably a subtle veil- 
ing of the word coquet. Cynical, unhappy old creature 1 

There is in French an expression, viz. " croquer le 
marmot," which means, to dance attendance upon; and 
this is, most likely, what was in the mind of its author 
when the name of Croquet was given to this delightful 
game, in which so much fascination consists in the jolly 
attendance we continually dance about one to another. 
Assuming this to be the most probable meaning of the 
term, we would suggest to our readers co use the word 
croquing, instead of croqueting; and say a person is 
croqued, rather than croquetted. It might look like an 
affectation to call a gentleman a croqueur, and a lady a 
croqueuss, but these terms would nevertheless be appro- 
priate. 

<| 9 J 



v^— ^ 

/ CROqUET. \ 

The word roquer (ro-ka) means, at cliess,. to castle. 
Castling is a means adopted to secure a king from an 
attack ; it consists in moving the king to the second 
square to the right or left of that where he stands, and 
then placing the castle on the square over which he 
leaped, as his defense. "We can fancy this as the reas- 
onable meaning of the designation roquet, when a friend 
gets in between another and an adversary and croquets 
the latter far awaj, acting, thus, the part of the rook, 
or castle, in chess. 

Bowls, that celebrated game of our forefathers, from 
which we have the designation of Bowling G-reen, New 
York ,• and Quoits, and Cricket, and Curling, and Base 
Ball, are all men's sports, while Croquet is the only out- 
door amusement with which is connected the chastening 
influence and dehghtful companionship of woman. No 
wonder it is popular. 



fee e^ 






CHAPTER II. 



IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. 

SET of Croquet is composed of 

EIGHT BALLS, TEN ARCHES, 

EIGHT MALLETS, TWO STAKES. 

Foreign woods are too heavy for the proper 
playing of croquet, though the sets made from them are, 
indeed, beautiful. The best of our native woods are the 
apple, rock maple, oak, and sycamore. In beauty of color 
and finish, no foreign wood equals the apple wood of our 
own coimtry ; it is too heavy for balls, and we use it, 
only, for mallets. "White ash furnishes the best mate- 
rial for handles, because it never warps, when properly 
prepared. The sycamore, on account of its elasticity 
and tenacity, is pronounced, both abroad and at home, 
a most excellent wood for balls. For highly finished 
balls, however, rock maple is the superior, and we are, 
at present, using no other. Our mallets are made, ex- 
clusively, of apple and rock maple, which afibrd suSi- 

^^ -e4. 







IMPLEMENTS, €f ROUND, ET€. 




cient weight without clumsiness. Our arches are en- 
ameled white, so that the playing may bo continued later 
in the evening, if desirable. The stakes, to be set as in 
diagrams, are marked, as will be observed, in eight col- 
ors, corresponding with those on the bails and malleta. 
The colors act as a guide to the players, and are arranged, 
alternately, for the two sides. 

The size of the ground must, of course, depend upon 
the space which can be allotted to the purpose. Sixty 
feet by thirty is a large ground, which may be made 
much smaller without sacrificing the enjoyment «f th« 
game, — the smoother, of course, the better. Where 
■the ground is slightly inclined, a little practice will en- 
able the player to make the necessary allowance for 
that; but, for the inequalities of the surface, the best of 
players can never accurately calculate the proper direc- 
tion and force of the strokes. With the very best of 
grounds, there can be no scientific playing unless the 
balls are perfect spheres. In Bowls, spheroids are ne- 
cessary; but, in Croquet, unless the balls are perfectly 
round, the game is quite as much a matter of chance a« 
anything else. 

Any one who cares for accuracy can test, with calli- 
pers, the sphericity of our balls, which, made in our 
patented machine, are necessarily round, and are, in 
fact, the only spherical balls manufactured. 

4^ ^ — — ^ 



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IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. 



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/ IMPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC \ 



The arches may be set according to either of the dia- 
grams herewith shown, or differently, as experience Qr 
fancy may suggest. The first is the simpler one, and is 
recommended to young players. The course of the balls 
is indicated by the dotted lines, though it is just as well, 
and perhaps a little more natural, to play towards the 
right flank, instead of the left, as indicated. Some play- 
ers prefer to have the aches marked 3 and 10 in first 
diagram, advanced to a line about three feet forward of 
No. 2, which would make small angles at 3 and 10, with 
a slight chance to run them on the first play from the 
second arch, and still would call for the highest skill. 
Even in this case the player would hardly accomplish it 
unless, having made the first two arches at a single 
stroke, he take his mallet's length backward, and thence 
play. 

It will be understood that if arches 3 and 10 are 
changed, as suggested, the other end of the arena must 
be made to correspond. The first arrangement is re- 
commended for the six and eight ball games, in which 
the course is made less torturous to compensate for the 
increased dangers from belligerent rovers. 

Whatever the plan of the arches, one thing should be 
settled at the start, that is, the boundaries of the arena, 
within which balls are to be replaced when driven be- 
yond. 



I 



17 



IMPLEMENTS, GB UND , ETC. \ 

The first diagram may varied, so as to make the play- 
ing a little more complicated, by placing the arches 4 
and 9 at right angles to others. 

The second diagram is recommended for the four or 
two handed game. Though there is an arch less in this 
than in the other, the player makes nothing, as he has 
to pass twice through the central arch. 

In connection with first diagram, in which the arches 
3 and 10 are advanced three feet forward of arch 2, as 
mentioned before, and to give to new players some idea 
how the play proceeds, let us suppose that the first 
player — we will call him Mr. Black — has been success- 
ful in going through the first two arches at one stroke, 
and then aims, quite confidently, at the third arch, but 
reaches, as lie most probably will, some point more or 
less above the arch he misses. 

Now the next player is Miss Orange, if you please. 
She, also, is fortunate in running arches 1 and 2 at one 
blow; but, instead of attempting, like Mr. B., to make 
the difficult play, directly at the third arch, she aims 
right at Mr. B. himself, and steals a roquet from him, 
that is, hits him — though it 's a pity to suggest that a 
lady would hit a gentleman. Now she has Mr. Black 
for a roquet-croquet, so what does she do, and so charm- 
ingly, too, that the poor fellow cannot take offence ? She 
puts her ball in just such a juxtaposition with his that 

fco- ^® — ej 



niPLEMENTS, GROUND, ETC. 



f 



with one blow, called a splitting blow, she drives her 
own ball just in front and B.'s just in the rear of the 
third arch ; and then, taking her privilege of another j 
blow, she runs her arch, and at the same time, if she is i 
careful, treats B. to another roquet, which she at once j 
follows up, as she ought to, by giving him a good round ! 
box on his ear, called, in our parlance, a croquet, which j 
leaves her to travel on her course unmolested, while i 
poor B. is whirling, confused and crestfallen, to the fur- 
thermost corner of the arena. 

There may be a good deal of fancy about this, but it 
is, indeed, what we often witness on our play ground. 



-fe^ e/^ 



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CHAPTER III. 



TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. 

RENA — The space included within the bound- 
aries of the croquet grounds. 

Booby — A ball which has failed to run the 
first arch. 

Carrom — The act of hitting two or more balls success- 
ively during the same run of a ball. 

Concussion— The displacement of a ball by another 
driven against it by roquet, croquet, carrom, or roquet- 
croquet; that is, whenever a ball is not displaced by a 
direct blow from a mallet or by the playing ball. 

Croquet — (cro-ka) — The title of the game; also, a 
privilege gained by making a roquet is called a croquet, 
if it is used. 

Croquing- — A ball having roqued another, it is taken 
up and placed in contact, at any point desired, with the 
ball on which the roquet is made ; the player then seta 

i 20 j) 






g.^3 ■ : e^ 

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. 

his foot upon his own ball, pressing it firmly so as not 
to flinch, and with a blow delivered upon it, drives by 
concussion his adversary's ball in whatever direction he 
chooses. 

Dead Ball — One that has made its tour and hit the 
starting stake, or been driven against it. 

Distanced — One that has not, at the close of the 
game, tolled the starting stake. 

Flinch — When, in croquing, the player's ball slips 
from under his foot, it is called a Flinch. 

Following Stroke — When, in roquet-croquet, a player 
places his ball and strikes it so as to follow the other. 

Front — The side of an arch from which a ball must 
come (either up or down) to run it ; the other is the 
reverse side. 

Grand Rounds — When one has run all the arches in 
tlieir due order, and tolled the turning stake, he has 
made the G-. R., and may continue as a Rover or strike 
out. 

Match — 'The best out of three games. 

Points — Runniug an arch in its due order, tolling a 
stake, and any roquet which confers the privilege of a 
croquet. 

Position — One is in position when his ball is in front 

21 

fg^3 _ e/^ 



/ TEEMS AND DEFINITIONS. 

of its prop IT arch, with a prohabiUty of running it at 
a single blow. 

Proper Arch — The one which is next in order for 
each player to run, is his proper arch. 

Push — Only distinct blows count, pushes are entirely 
out of the game. 

Rb-roquet — When a ball is roqued twice during the 
same turn, but without the second privilege of croquet. 
Ricochet — Same as Carom. 

Roquet — {ro-Tia) — It is a roquet when a player's bail^ 
either from a direct blow or a rebound from some other 
ball, or an arch or an inequality of the surface, comes 
into contact with another ball or other balls. 

Roquet-Croquet, or Croquet Sans Pied— Same as 
a croquet and subject to the same rules, except in making 
this play the foot is not placed npon the ball, whereby 
both balls may be driven either in the same or any 
divergent directions. See Splitting Stroke. 

Rover — One which has made the grand rounds but 
has not been struck out by hitting the starting stake.- 
See G-rand Rounds. 

Running an Arch — When a ball has been driven 
through its proper arch, and from its proper front, 
whether it be from a direct blow or from a roquet, a 

^ ^ 



^3 

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. 



croquet, concussion, carrora, or roquet-croquet, it has 
run its bridge or arch. 

Salt River — A side is up Salt River when none are 
out at the conclusion of the game by the other side. 

Splitting Stroke — A player, after he makes a roquet, 
can place his ball in any juxtaposition with the roqued 
ball he chooses (whether it be a friend or an adversary), 
and then hitting his own, drive both balls in any diver- 
gent direction he chooses. See Following Stroke. 

Stakes — There are two, the starting and the turning 
stakes. 
Staking — Tolling or hitting the turning stake. 

Step — Running an arch or tolling the turning stake, 
are called steps in the game. 

Striking Out — After the grand rounds a ball is struck 
out when, from any cause, in the due order of play, it is 
made to hit the starting stake. It is then a dead ball, 
and must be removed. 

Taking a Stroke Off — This is when the player's 
ball is put in such a contact with another, that a roquet" 
croquet will but justmo\e the one, while the player's 
ball may be sent on to any distance desired. 

Tolling— See Staking. 

Tournament — The best out of three matches. 

23 

($g^3 — ^ &^ 



w^ — ^ 

y TERMS AND BEFINITIO:^JS. V 



Tour — The proper course of a ball around the ground. 
Turn — A player's turn continues so long as lie makes 

a point. See Point. 

Wired — Such a position that an arch prevents the 

blow desired. 

Probably it is best to explain here, though it is else- 
where, that in running up the course the arches all 
front towards the starting stake, while in running down, 
they all front towards the turning stake. 



^- -e4 




^ 



CHAPTER IV. 



SUGGESTIONS TO BEGSNNERS. 

HE game gains much of its popularity Trom its 
very graceful character ; it is, in fact, the most 
pleasing type of calisthenic recreation. There- 
fore, avoid all roughness and unseemly attitudes* 
Do not swing your mallet as though you intended 
to slaughter an ox, or whack your ball as if it was your 
intention to split it. 

It may seem smart, to some, to drive an adversary's 
ball to some dim distance, but excellence in croquet very 
rarely consists in such playing. 

Tap the balls gently, but firmly ; such blows will, on 
good ground, amply disarrange your adversary's calcu- 
lations, and promote the chances of 3'our own side. 

Study to master the beautiful and various problems of 
roquet-croquet, so as to be always ready to assist your 
friends and annoy your adversaries. The science and 
pleasure of the game inhere in such playing much more 

25 




w^ ^ 

/ ^SUGOESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. \ 



than in simply running arches, etc. Practice will soon 
make a player quite proficient in executing these split- 
ting strokes, and when they are mastered the game will 
have acquired much more of interest. 

There should be no favoritism shown, for the game 
depreciates very much where the rules are not inflexibly 
adhered to. 

A thoughtful lady will always have her dress so ar- 
ranged as not to be an annoyance to her companions ; 
besides, she. as well as the gentleman, needs the free ' 
use of both hands and arras to balance herself properly 
and play with accuracy, which she cannot do when one 
hand is employed in protecting her skirts. 

Bear in mind, that it is much more fascinating to be 
able to run unexpectedly, to assist a friend in distress, 
or to retard a too confident adversary, than it is to matte 
your own uninterrupted progress. 

In defeat or victory, be master of yourself; mind 
your turn ; do not subject your companibns to the trouble 
of keeping the run of the play for you, for no game can 
be interesting, to any one, where there is such indiffer- 
ence. Far better the game where there is the deafening 
racket, when, at some comminghng of balls, the next 
player is besought, teased, adjured, flattered to do a dozen 
different things at once, and to play thus and so in the 
interest of seven other players, and warned, threatened, 

\ 26 J 



5^6/3 &^^ 



SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINJ^ERS. 




I 



supplicated not to do any one of them, and the confusion 
of rejoicing and mourning when, at last, the play is 
made — such playing is really invigorating. 

Eemember to keep your own ball as far from your 
adversary's, and as near to your friend's, as possible. 

When you are well in advance, and see a chance to 
turn back and roquet an enemy, and so croquet him 
away from a friend, make use of it fearlessly, unless you 
think you can make more by hastening through and be- 
coming a rover. 

"Whenever you have an opportunity, be sure and cro- 
quet a friend through his arch ; and when you see an 
adversary in a favorable position to run his arch, make 
for him : it is the disconcerting of such nice arrange- 
ments that arouses the full merriment of the game. 

Before croquing, always carefully survey the field, so 
as not to send a friend in the immediate neighborhood 
of an adversary, or, contrariwise, an adversary toward 
a friend. 

A careful player, noting the positions of all the other 
balls, will play so as to leave himself in such a position 
that, at his next turn, he can either run an arch or ro- 
quet a more careless player. 

As this is a refined and scientific amusement, ic should 
be the pleasure of all to adhere strictly to the rules of 
the game, and frown down, at once, any attempt at 
cheating. 



27 



^ e^S^ 

SUGGESTIONS TO BEGI:JNERS. 

Always strike fairly, standing by the side of your 
ball, and not behind it, and hold the mallet with only 
one hand, as it is the rule, and much more graceful, and 
never attempt to pas 3 off a push for a blow. 

Calculate the distance and the direction you want to 
go, then, after thus carefully getting your aim, let your 
eye rest, rather, upon your mark, and only so much up- 
on your ball as will make you sure to hit it. 

If you are a Rover, keep yourself close to your friend, 
and aid him by the croquet, or roquet-croquet; or, get 
in advance of a forward adversary, and delay his pro- 
gress as much as possible. If you are near a friend, let 
him croquet you toward an adversary who may have 
played last, and thus put you in a favorable position to 
make a roquet upon him. 

It will be soon understood that an expert rover can 
be of the greatest service to his friends, and the sooner 
you succeed in forcing out such a dangerous foe the bet- 
ter; but, by no means force out of the game a poor 
rover, as he cannot be of much avail to his friends, and 
they cannot possibly win the game as long as he is kept 
in the field. 

A position directly under or just in front of an arch, 
puts you in command of the field beyond it. Running 
the arch, of course, gives you an extra shot, and, may 
be, enables you to take a roquet^upou some ball you 
want to croquet. 






SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. 




Do not attempt very difficult shots, except under des- 
perate circumstances ; but, sometimes, the very desper- 
ation gives success to the shot. Never despair because 
you are behindhand; the fortune of the game is con- 
stantly shifting: nor be too confident when you are 
ahead; now, your ball is in a splendid position for your 
. next run, along comes an adversary, or worse yet, a 
blundering friend, displacing you, or knocking you to 
the farthest end of the field. It is very true, that the 
game is never out until it is played out. 

It is this nice adjustment of chance and skillful play- 
ing which gives the game its freshness and attraction. 

In making roquet-croquet shots, which, as we have 
already said, are susceptible of the most scientific play- 
ing, practice will soon show you. that if it is desirable to 
drive your adversary's ball much farther than you wish 
your own to go, you must give your ball a sharp, quick 
blow, proportionate, of course, to the distance you wish 
your own ba]l to go, cutting off the momentum of the 
blow the very instant the mallet has hit the ball. 

Suppose your aim is to send both balls along together ; 
then let your mallet have a good full swing, and come 
down with a more sweeping blow. 

If you want to pake a splitting stroke, sending the 
balls in divergent directions, which practice alone will 
enable you to do well, the blow must not fall in a hne 

i 29 j) 



#^ ®^ 

/{ SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNEBS. \ 

with the centers of the balls, but, more or less, to one 
side or the other of the rear ball. 

Practice this : put two balls in various juxtapositions, 
and see in how many different directions you can send 
the balls by varying blows upon the hindmost one. 

Dr. Franklin's Morals for Chess are very appropriate 
for Croquet. 1st. Foresight — which well considers the 
consequences attendant upon any action. 2d. Circum- 
spection — which takes good note of the situation of all 
the pieces (balls), and their relations. 3d. Caution — not 
to move too hastily, or desperately. 4th. Hopefulness 
— persevering in the search for resources, remembering 
that the game is full of events, turns, vicissitudes, and 
the pleasure there is in discovering means of extracting 
one's self from supposed insurmountable difficulties. 
Too great success often produces a presumptuous inat- 
tention, while misfortune son^etimes induces such care- 
fulness as enables a player to snatch victory from the 
very jaws of defeat. 

As it may be overlooked elsewhere, we state here, 
that while one, only, is a Kover who has run all the 
arches, yet any one, at any time after running the first 
arch, can assume ihe character of a Rover, but such is 
not advisable, unless the player be a very export one. 



To show how differently a good player would play, 

30 



SUGGESTIONS TO BEGmNUBS. V 



HDder certain circumstances, from an inexperienced one, 
let a few illustrations suffice. 

Let us suppose that two balls are situated, any way 
differently, in front of an arch which is the next one for 
each player there to run -place two balls in position 
well separated, but in front of an arch. A new player 
would take it for granted, that the best course for him 
would be to drive his ball at once through the arch, and 
so get as far ahead of the other as possible; but an ex- 
pert player would first endeavor to mr.ke a roquet upon 
the other, and then, if it be a friend, croquet him through 
the arch, and himself follow; then, as he would have 
an extra blow, roquet the second time, and then croquet 
the frieud into a position for the next arch, &c. : but if 
It be an adversary, the first roquet would be followed up 
by a splitting stroke, one which would send the adver- 
sary just outside of and in advance of the arch throu-h 
which the player's ball would at the same time go, and 
tlien be in a position to take a second roquet, to be fol- 
lowed by another splitting stroke, or a croquet, as might 
be most advisable. Almost any player, from this descrip- 
tion, ought to be able to execute this illustration. 

Take the case where a ball is nearly on a hne witli 
tlie arch to be run, but some distance at one side- an 
inexperienced player would probably play for a position 
very near the arch, in front, in which play the slightest 

31 

K^e 




w^ -^ 

/T SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNERS. \ 



inequality of the ground, or mistake in hitting with the 
exact amount of force, would cause the ball to fall short 
of, or run entirely too tar for, a good a position. Now, 
in this instance, a better player would endeavor to drive 
his ball in a direction of about forty-five degrees for a 
position, which, while it would be further off, would en- 
able him, with a certainty, almost, to make his arch at 
his next turn, 

Suppose an adversary is just in front of an arch 
through which you have to pass (place a ball just in 
front and another at one side of an arch, and some little 
distance to the rear) ; for this rear ball to make the arch 
two turns £re necessary ; it would be absurd, if you 
were the rear ball, to run yourself close up to the other, 
thinking to run through at the next turn, for the adver- 
sary would certainly come a roquet upon you. You 
should, under such circumstances, be content to reach 
some point in front of the arch, as in last illustration, 
from which you could next run your arch, and at which 
point your adversary would not, probably, attempt to 
make a roquet upon you. 

Place an adversary in front of the fourth arch, and 
yourself in front of the second ; it is your turn to play. 
"Would you just go through the second arch, and then 
make for a position at the third, expecting to run it 
next time ? A better player would drive his ball sharp- 

t 89 ^ 



rv>o 



/ SUGGESTIONS TO BEGINNEBS. \ 



Ij through arch ISTo. 2, and as near the other ball as 
possible, then take a roquet, to be followed by a croquet, 
and then play for a position in front of arch No. 3. 

Take another case. A. is close to the arch he has 
next to pass. B., a rover on the same side, is on a line 
with him, but some distance off. If B. should play di- 
rectly at A., he might probably carry him out of posi- 
tion. The true plan would be for B. to play for a spot 
about half way between A.'s arch and the next one to 
it. A. could then take a roquet on B., after running the 
arch, then croquet B. through the next arch, then, run- 
ning that arch also, take another roquet on B., and so on. 

At the end of the chapter on Implements, &c., will be 
found an illustration which we thought best to bring in 
there. 

"We have only introduced these few simple illustrations 
to show how attractive the game may become where 
some effort is made to get acquainted with its rules and 
principles. "We might fill a volume with these exam- 
ples, but if one is really interested in the game, practice 
will call them out as fast as necessary. These examples, 
simple as they are, will be much more easily apprehend- 
ed and understood if the player will place the balls as 
suggested, and practice accordingly. 



t 33 i> 



?J 






CHAPTER V. 



RULES. 

■ HOOSING- SIDES— Two of the party, acting as 
chiefs, play for the lead. The usual way is for 
each to play from under the first arch for the 
starting stake. The sides are then chosen alter- 
nately, commencing with the winner. The balls 
and mallets are distributed as follows : 



First Side. 


Second Side. 


Black, 


Orange, 


Green, 


Yellow, 


Brown, 


Pink, 


Blue, 


Eed. 


The sides play alternately. 





Parties — A full party consists of eight, though, of 
course, a less number can as well play. If there be an 
odd number to play, the smallest side can have a player 
with two balls. Parties of four and under can make 

fce e4 



?? 



£S/e— «sv^ 



BULES. 



fco 



if 



the playing more interesting by using two balls to each 
player. 

The Start — Place the ball about half way from the 
starting stake, on a line drawn from it to the center of 
the first arch. 

Striking — The player must stand one side of the ball 
and strike— never push — the ball with the face, not the 
side, of the mallet. 

Counts — The stroke counts whenever an audible 
sound is made^ certainly, when the ball moves; other- 
wise, the blow may be repeated. 

Contact — If a player's ball, at the commencement of 
his turn, is in contact with another's ball, he has the 
same play as though the balls were separate, though 
the moving of the other ball, in playing, would not 
count for a roquet. 

Taking Ground— "When a ball is driven through the 
first two arches at one blow, the player has two more 
strokes. 

{Note. — Wq would advise skillful players to forego this 
right, as it enables the first player to get so far ahead as 
to deaden the enthusiasm of the game.) 

If any other two arches are run in their proper erder, 
and from one direct blow of the mallet, the player can 
take up ground a mallet's length in any direction, but 

35 



w^ ^ 

/ BULES. \ 

this privilege cannot be used to place the ball in position 
under or on the reyerse side of the next arch the player 
has to run. 

MiSPLAY — 1. If a ball played out of its turn is chal- 
lenged before another is played, it must be returned to 
its proper place or remain where it is, at the option ol its 
adyersary. Any damage done by such misplay must 
be fully repaired, and any benefit derived must be sur- 
rendered, if the opposite side demands it. 

If the opposite side permits the misplay to stand, or 
does not in due time challenge it, then the misplayer 
simply forfeits his next turn. 

MiSPLAT WITH WROxa BALL — If a player use a wrong 
ball, and it be challenged before the next player's turn, 
the ball must be placed back, all the consequences 
rectified, and the misplayer be deprived of his next turn. 
If the misplay be not in due time challenged, the game 
must proceed as it is, with the forfeiture of the mis- 
player's next tnrn. 

3. If a misplay has taken place so that the balls are 
being played out of order, but the original misplay can- 
not be discovered, in such case the player must complete 
his turn, and immediately after the right order be re- 
sumed. 

4. If two partners are found playing in succession, 

36 <P 

W^- : e^ 






BULEa. 



i 




the last, of course, misplays, and if detected before the 
next play, must suffer the penalty. 

See Misplay, 1. 

Arches — 1. The arches must all be run in their 
regular order, and from their proper fronts. The fronts, 
going up, are towards the starting stake, but in coming 
down, towards the turning stake. 

2. An arch is not run when the haudle of a mallet 
laid across it, on the side from which the ball ought to 
come, touches the ball. 

3. When a ball has been struck through its proper 
arch, but rolls back just so as to rest under it, it will 
not count as a point, nor is it in a position to run that 
arch at its next turn, but it must first be driven on 
entirely through, and thence run the arch agam. 

4. It counts for a position when a ball, which has run 
an arch from the reverse side,, rolls or rebounds back 
under it. In such case, if the ball rebounds or rolls back 
entirely through the arch, it counts for a point, and 
that arch need not be run again from that front. 

5. A player cannot make roquet upon a ball which is 
on the reverse side of his next arch to run, and then 
move his, ball thither to croquet, and count that as hav- 
ing run the arch ; but, after croquing, he must make his 
arch as usual. 

The same rule applies where a ball roquets another, 
driving the latter through the player's next arch. 

37 



w^ ^ — -^ 

/ BULE8. \ 

So, too, where a player moves his ball for a croquet, 
to a ball which is roqued, which is lying under an arch, 
it will not count him for a position to run the arch ; but, 
after taking his croquet, he must play back through the 
arch and run it thence, according to his turn. 

6. "When a player makes a roquet, and at the same 
time runs an arch, he has but one extra stroke. 

7. If a croqued ball, in its passage, drives another 
througli its proper arch, it counts for the second ball, 

8. If a ball makes roquet on another, and then at the 
same time runs its proper arch, the player can either. 
croquet his adversary, or waive that and roquet same 
ball again, or continue on, and has not to pass through 
the same arch again from that front. 

9. A ball has run an arch when it passes it in iis 
due order, and from the proper front, whether it be 
from a direct blow, a loquet, re-roquet, roquet-croquet, 
croquet, or concussion, but not when it strikes the person 
or mallet of another, and then goes through. 

Concussion — When a ball is lying against the turn- 
ing stake or the pier of an arch, it is allowable 'to strike 
these with a view of moving the ball by concussion, but 
if the ball does not move the turn is lost. 

Roquet — 1. A player is at liberty, on tils course or 
out of it, at any time during his turn, to make roquet 
upon any ball he choses ; he may roquet the same ball 

fe^ — ^ -^ 




■&& 



I 



RULES. 



f. 



twice between two consecutive steps, but the second 
will not count as a point, with the privilege of another 
croquet, etc. 

2. If a ball, in going through an arch, make roquet 
upon another, the player can either waive his croquet 
and continue on, or else croquet the other ball, but he 
is allowed but one extra stroke for his first play. 

3. See, under the head of arches, Rule 8. 

4. After a roquet a player can always waive his right 
to a croquet or roquet-croquet, and continue his play 
from where he is. It is the roquet which makes the 
point, the others being simply privileges won by it. 

5. Roquing a rover against the starting stake con- 
fers no privilege of croquing it, as it becomes at once a 
dead ball ; the player, however, can continue his turn. 

6. If, after a roquet, the player's ball be taken up or 
intentionally moved, it must then continue its play 
from the side of the roqued ball. 

*7. If a ball, when croqued, hit another, it is not to be 
considered that the second ball has roqued the third. 

8. A Rover may make roquet, but not croquet, twice 
on the same ball during one turn. The second roquet, 
however, carries no privilege, either of croquet or con- 
tinuance of play. 

9. When does a ball roquet another ? See Definitions 
— Roquet. 

39 



/ BJJLES. \ 



Ceoquet — If a ball flinch in tlie execution of a croquet, 
the play is null, the croqued ball must be returned to 
its position, and the player proceed with his turn from 
where he is. 

2. If in the case of a Minch the player's ball should 
hit another, he cannot claim a croquet for it. 

3. A croquet is proved by the stirring of the croqued 
ball, provided the mallet has struck the player's ball. — 
If there is no separation of the balls, tlie stroke may be 
repeated, 

4. No player, except a rover (who has already been 
through all the arches), can croquet the same ball twice 
without having in the interval made a point. 

5. A player may make croquet or roquet-croquet upon 
any number of balls consecutively, provided he has first 
made roquet upon them, but he cannot do it twice dur- 
ing the same turn, without first sending his own ball 
through its next arch in order, or tolling the stake. 

6. If a ball be croqued against either stake, it counts, 
if that were its next play. 

t. If either of the stakes be struck in due order, by 
a ball that is driven thither by a croquing or croqued 
ball, or by either of the balls in a roquet-croquet play, 
the stroke holds good. 

Rover — A Rover can only acquire a continuance of 
play by the roquet. He may croquet or roquet-croquet 

t 40 $ 



w^ — — ^ 

y MULES. V 



each ball once during tlie same turn, provided he has 
made roquet upon each. Roquet on the same ball twice 
during one turn, does not give him the right of continu- 
ance. 

2. Any player, after running the first arch, can 
assume the character of a rover ; in suoh case, he is 
subject to the same rules as a rover. 

Roquet-croquet — 1. The laws of roquet-croquet are 
the same as those of croquet, except as to some points 
for which special rules are given. 

2. If a player, in making roquet-croquet, does not 
move his adversary's ball from its position, he loses his 
turn, unless by the same stroke he has made a point, 

Carroms — After making a carrom, or ricochet stroke, 
the player may either make croquet or roquet-croquet 
on all the balls struck, or waive a p art and make it on 
the rest, but the order of the croquing, etc., must 
always be the order of the carrom. After making the 
croquets, etc., the player has one additional stroke for 
his carrom. 

BoOBT — A booby has but one stroke. It must be at 
once removed, wait its next turn, and start anew. 

Displaced Balls — 1. "When a ball is driven from the 
arena, it must be at once brought back and placed, 

k^ -^^ ^ -^ 



^g^^e — 

BULE8. 



'I 




before tke play goes on, a foot within the boundary, at 
a point nearest where it went o£f. 

2. When a ball is in such a position by a tree or 
other obstacle (not an arch or a stake), that it cannot be 
played in the course desired, it may be removed one foot 
beyond such obstacle, but not in a direction which 
would bring the ball nearer the point its player may 
want to make. 

3. "When a player has made a roquet upon a ball, 
situated as in last rule, he may remove it, under same 
limitations, one foot beyond such obstruction, for the 
purpose of taking his croquet, etc. 

4. A ball accidentally displaced, must be restored 
before the game proceeds. So, also, if an arch be dis- 
placed or bent over. 

5. If a ball, in its course, be interrupted by an adver- 
sary, the player has the option to let it remain where it 
stopped, or to place it where it would probably have 
rolled. 

6. If the interruption, as above, be from a friend, then 
an adversary would be entitled to the same option. — 
Outsiders count as adversaries. 

7. If a croqued ball is interrupted by an adversary 
the player, at his option, may repeat the croquet. 

Tolling — Tolling the turning stake is in all respects 

to — — ej 



^^yo- 



^! 



-e^ 



RTILES. 



I 



equivalent to running an arch. The stakes may be 
struck from any direction. 

Turn — A player's turn continues as long as he makes 
a point ; his tour ends with his striking out. See Points- 
in Definitions. 

"Waiyer — A privilege can be waived, but a point can- 
not be. 

Struck Out — After running all the arches,, a player 
may strike out or continue as a Eover; he may also be 
struck out, either intentionally or accidentally, from a 
blow, a roquet, croquetj roquet-croquet,, or concussion. 
In such case the tour is complete, and the ball must be 
removed, and the game conclude without it. 




43 



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